Digital Commons Network^™

Global Research On Ultramafic (Serpentine) Ecosystems (8th International Conference On Serpentine Ecology In Sabah, Malaysia): A Summary And Synthesis, Antony Van Der Ent, Nishanta Rajakaruna, Robert Boyd, Guillaume Echevarria, Rimi Repin, Dick Williams

Biological Sciences

Since 1991, researchers from approximately 45 nations have participated in eight International Conferences on Serpentine Ecology (ICSE). The Conferences are coordinated by the International Serpentine Ecology Society (ISES), a formal research society whose members study geological, pedological, biological and applied aspects of ultramafic (serpentine) ecosystems worldwide. These conferences have provided an international forum to discuss and synthesise multidisciplinary research, and have provided opportunities for scientists in distinct fields and from different regions of the world to conduct collaborative and interdisciplinary research. The 8th ICSE was hosted by Sabah Parks in Malaysia, on the island of Borneo, and attracted the largest …

Teacher Internship Report- Kerman High School, Elizabeth A. Basham

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

This internship/project report includes validation documents required in meeting the quality criteria for secondary-level programs of instruction in agriculture. The documents are concurrently used for the Agriculture Incentive Grant review process at Kerman High School conducted by representatives of the California Department of Education. The internship included the development of a comprehensive program plan for Kerman High School. The comprehensive program plan for Kerman High School includes information about the Kerman FFA Chapter, an outline the goals and objectives of the program, program of activities, along with an overview of Kerman High School, the agriculture program and community.

Eight Degree Of Freedom Vehicle Model With Pitch, Yaw, Tire Control And Sensor Inputs, Sean T. Hirtle

Master's Theses

This research focuses on the development of an eight degree of freedom vehicle model in the MATLAB computing language. Its purpose is to provide flexibility in the modeling and implementation of signal inputs and crash avoidance logic while maintaining accuracy in the physics of the vehicle’s motion. Firstly, the equations of motion for the bodies involved under a reasonable set of assumptions were developed. Next the model was translated to computer code. By writing the model in SimuLink with *.m files, the modularity of the code is enhanced. To validate the model, several well defined tests were simulated.

To establish …

Challenges In Transitioning From Waterfall To Scrum, Rini Iyju

Master's Theses

In today's fast-paced, fiercely competitive world; speed and flexibility are essential. Companies are increasingly realizing that the sequential approach to developing new product simply will not get the job done.

The goal of this thesis is to investigate critical issues and challenges that occur during the transition from a traditional software development methodology such as Waterfall to Scrum. During the last decade, Scrum has gained a vast success in software development due to its lightweight character and efficient way of handling the challenges of increased market speed, change and product complexity.

This thesis is based on a sequential exploratory mixed …

Executive Committee - Agenda, 4/28/2015, Academic Senate

Academic Senate Agendas

No abstract provided.

April 22, 2015 Cal Poly Report, Public Affairs Office

Cal Poly Report

No abstract provided.

Academic Senate - Agenda, 4/21/2015, Academic Senate

Academic Senate Agendas

No abstract provided.

Cal Poly Students Win First Place In North America Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge, Public Affairs Office

Press Releases

No abstract provided.

City Of San Luis Obispo, Open Space Survey, William W. Riggs, Megyn Rugh, Camille Jackson, Kelsey Stefen, Lance Knox

City and Regional Planning Studios and Projects

The City of San Luis Obispo (SLO) has eleven official public open spaces. Managing these places presents a challenge in providing top-tier environmental stewardship, while also accommodating passive recreational use and access, in an era of fiscal limitations and competing priorities. Given that reality and the changing population dynamics in the US, providing equal access to these facilities is of increasing importance, whether by car, bike, on foot or via public transit. These open spaces provide value (environmental, economic and social) primarily to residents, as well as visitors, and gaining a data-driven understanding of that value was a primary goal …

San Luis Obispo Open Space Survey, William W. Riggs, Megyn Rugh, Camille Jackson, Kelsey Stefen, Lance Knox, Crp 425 Bicycle And Pedestrian Planning

City and Regional Planning Studios and Projects

The City of San Luis Obispo (SLO) has eleven official public open spaces. Managing these places presents a challenge in providing top-tier environmental stewardship, while also accommodating passive recreational use and access, in an era of fiscal limitations and competing priorities. Given that reality and the changing population dynamics in the US, providing equal access to these facilities is of increasing importance, whether by car, bike, on foot or via public transit. These open spaces provide value (environmental, economic and social) primarily to residents, as well as visitors, and gaining a data-driven understanding of that value was a primary goal …

Executive Committee - Agenda, 4/7/2015, Academic Senate

Academic Senate Agendas

No abstract provided.

Full Issue

Paideia

No abstract provided.

Climate Change: Effects On The Use Of Biotechnology In Agriculture, Ashley Stephens

Paideia

No abstract provided.

A Website Of Agriculturally Related Activities For Elementary Grade Levels, Bailey M. Kirby

Agricultural Education and Communication

The purpose of this project is to develop a website containing agriculturally-related activities designed for the elementary classroom, including kindergarten to fifth grade. This website was created in order to bring agriculture into the elementary classroom and introduce the topic to students at an earlier age because the subject is currently only taught at the high school level. Two activities were created for each grade level and fit into the current curriculums for those grade levels. The website was designed in a way that teachers will be able to continually submit activities to be added to the website at any …

Measuring The Strength Of The Semantic Relationship Between Words, Lubomir Stanchev

Computer Science and Software Engineering

We propose a novel way for extracting the strength of the semantic relationship between words from semi-structured sources, such as WordNet. Unlike existing approaches that only explore the structured information (e.g., the hypernym relationship in WordNet), we present a framework that allows us to utilize all available information, including natural text descriptions. Our approach constructs a similarity graph that stores the strength of the semantic relationship between words. Specifically, an edge between two words describes the probability that someone who is interested in resources about the first word will be also interested in resources about the second word. Note that …

Role Of Bacterial-Fungal Interactions On Heavy Metal Phytotoxicity In Serpentine Soil, Mihiri Seneviratne, Gamini Seneviratne, H. M. S. P. Madawala, M.C.M. Iqbal, Nishanta Rajakaruna, Tharanga Bandara, Meththika Vithanage

Biological Sciences

This study was conducted to understand the role of bacterial–fungal interactions on heavy metal uptake by Zea mays plants. A pot experiment was conducted for 90 days with Z. mays in serpentine soil inoculated with a Gram-negative bacterium, fungus (Aspergilllus sp.) and both microbes to determine the effects of inoculation on nickel, manganese, chromium and cobalt concentrations in plant tissue and soil. Soil nutrients and soil enzyme activities were measured to determine the effect of inoculations on soil quality. Inoculation of microorganisms increased shoot and root biomass, and the maximum biomass was in the bacterial–fungal inoculation. This could be …

Transfer Of Heavy Metals Through Terrestrial Food Webs: A Review, Jillian E. Gall, Robert Boyd, Nishanta Rajakaruna

Biological Sciences

Heavy metals are released into the environment by both anthropogenic and natural sources. Highly reactive and often toxic at low concentrations, they may enter soils and groundwater, bioaccumulate in food webs, and adversely affect biota. Heavy metals also may remain in the environment for years, posing long-term risks to life well after point sources of heavy metal pollution have been removed. In this review, we compile studies of the community-level effects of heavy metal pollution, including heavy metal transfer from soils to plants, microbes, invertebrates, and to both small and large mammals (including humans). Many factors contribute to heavy metal …

Exploring The Physiological Role Of Vibrio Fischeri Pepn, Sally L. Cello

Master's Theses

The primary contributor to Vibrio fischeri aminopeptidase activity is aminopeptidase N, PepN. Colonization assays revealed the pepN mutant strain to be deficient at forming dense aggregates and populating the host’s light organ compared to wildtype within the first 12 hours of colonization; however the mutant competed normally at 24 hours. To address the role of PepN in colonization initiation and establish additional phenotypes for the pepN mutant strain, stress response and other physiological assays were employed. Marked differences were found between pepN mutant and wildtype strain in response to salinity, acidity, and antibiotic tolerance. This study has provided a foundation …

Iocean Rgb Sensor, Mark Mcneff, Archit Mendiratta

Electrical Engineering

The goal of this project is to create an accurate ocean color sensor that will communicate effectively with an iPhone. The device will take ocean color measurements at its current location and provide these measurements to the user for scientific study of the variability of ocean color across the globe. The data gathered by the device will also provide ground-truthing of satellite ocean color measurements.

Evaluating Urban Design Strategies For Climate Change Adaptation In Los Angeles, Kerby Andrew Olsen

Master's Theses

Human interference with the Earth’s climate, through the release of greenhouse gasses (GHGs), is estimated to have already increased average statewide temperatures in California by 1.7° Fahrenheit (F), with a further 2.7°F of warming expected by mid-century. The negative impacts of increased temperatures may be especially acute in mid-latitude cities that currently enjoy a mild climate, such as Los Angeles (LA), which are projected to warm to a point that will significantly affect human health and well being. The built environment increases urban temperatures through building materials that readily absorb heat from the sun, a lack of vegetation, a lack …

March 11, 2015 Cal Poly Report, Public Affairs Office

Cal Poly Report

No abstract provided.

Soil Carbon Coalition Founder To Host Rangeland Workshop At Cal Poly's Cheda Ranch March 21, Public Affairs Office

Press Releases

No abstract provided.

Cal Poly Students Win Platinum And Gold In Western Regional Dairy Challenge, Public Affairs Office

Press Releases

No abstract provided.

March 4, 2015 Cal Poly Report, Public Affairs Office

Cal Poly Report

No abstract provided.

Setting The Standard: A Study Of The Walt Disney Resort Service Model, Kelsey Freeman

Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration

Companies are constantly seeking new ways to keep up with the changing expectations of customers. In the hospitality industry customizing guest service to each individual guest is a step that can be taken to create lasting relationships. The Walt Disney Resorts are worth examining for their high rate of return. The purpose of this study was to analyze the best practices and success of personalizing guest experience at the Walt Disney Resorts. The researcher used a case study checklist to gather information about the efforts Disney makes to customize guest experiences.The study found that allowing guests to customize their vacation, …

Designing A Natural Resource Workshop For Students: Working With Wood: Adventures In Forestry, Maddison Easley

Agricultural Education and Communication

There is a need for additional education focused on natural resource related careers and issues. As communities become further removed from these subjects, hands-on workshops and educational trainings are necessary to rekindle interest in these topics, especially in regards to application in fields like agriculture. The goal of this project was to create a logical outline to follow when designing and implementing natural resource workshops. An additional outcome of the project involved the implementation of a forestry workshop through the 26 Hours of Science and Technology program at California Polytechnic State University on March 11, 2015. The outline provided in …

Moor Movement: Automated Docking On Drought-Stricken Reservoirs, Daniel Beck

Landscape Architecture

Moor Movement establishes a mechanized docking system for unpredictable shoreline fluctuations on inland lakes and reservoirs. Due to climate change and warmer global temperatures, the threat of ocean level rise has initiated massive proposals to address the interface between ocean and man-made infrastructure. While this is a monumental problem, ocean level rise is not the only immediate threat. The recently declared emergency drought conditions in California are finally bringing attention to inland lakes and reservoirs. While ocean levels might rise 2-7 feet in 100 years, a lake could drop 100 feet in 5 years. What happens to access roads, marinas, …

Reclaiming And Reconciling What Was Originally Ours--Christianity And Feminism: A Concise History, Soquel Filice

History

No abstract provided.

Examining Consumer Preferences Within The Avocado Industry: Does Point Of Origin Matter?, Sheldon Bosio

Agribusiness

The avocado market in the United States has grown immensely over the past two decades, and numerous foreign regions import avocados into the United States in order to keep up with domestic consumer demand. This study was conducted to primarily determine if point of origin is a factor consumers take into consideration when purchasing avocados. As avocado consumption has dramatically increased over the past twenty years, trying to understand consumer preferences within the avocado industry was also an important aspect of this study. A survey was conducted and gathered 290 useable responses. The majority of the respondents resided in California, …

Atwater High School - Teacher Internship Program, Natalie R. Kirschner Borba

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

This internship/project report includes validation documents required in meeting the quality criteria for secondary-level programs of instruction in agriculture. The documents are concurrently used for the Agriculture Incentive Grant review process at Atwater High School conducted by representatives of the California Department of Education. The curriculum and supporting documents created during the internship validate the science curriculum taught within the Agriculture Department. All curricula was revamped and aligned to both the Next Generation Science Standards and the Common Core Standards.